"I dunno's any such speech is called
for here," said she, in a furious self-betrayal. Josiah Pease had
always been able to storm her reserves.
"Law, no," answered he comfortably. "It come into my mind,--that's
all."
She looked at Enoch with a passionate sympathy, knowing too well how
the hidden sting was intended to work. But Enoch had not heard. He was
absorbed in a finer problem of brass and iron; and though Amelia had
wished to save him from hurt, in that instant she scorned him for his
blindness. "I guess I shall have to ask you to move," she said to her
husband coldly. "I've got to git to that stove, if we're goin' to have
any dinner to-day."
It seemed to her that even Enoch might take the hint, and clear away
his rubbish. Her feelings might have been assuaged by a clean hearth
and some acquiescence in her own mood. But he only moved back a little,
and went on fitting and musing. He was not thinking of her in the
least, nor even of Josiah Pease. His mind had entered its brighter,
more alluring world. She began to fry her pork and apples, with a
perfunctory attempt at conversation. "You don't often git round so
early in the spring," said she.
"No," returned cousin Josiah. "I kind o' got started out, this time, I
don't rightly know why.
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